Toy



Nov. 27, 1934- M. L, HUNGERFORD TOY Filed Nov. 21,' 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 27, 1934- M. L, HUNGERFORD TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1952 [I all INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1934. M. 1.. HUNGERFORD TOY Filed Nov. 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2'7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, its primary object being to provide a collapsible device made of paper or other fiat material, representative of the interior of a dwelling or other establishment, or of any other defined place, such as a garden, a park, a forest, or other subjects too numerous to mention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of the above-described character in which various separate articles may be placed in appropriate positions relative to the subjects portrayed by the toy. v

Another object is to provide articles separate from the main or body part of the toy, especially adaptedfor the above stated purpose.

Another object is to provide a toy of the abovedescribed character which, when not in use, may be folded into small compass and which is of a form and construction so simple that it may be produced and sold atsmall cost.

A further and important feature of the invention is that it permits of the use of articles made from cut-out illustrations of magazines, newspapers, catalogues and other publications. Owing to this feature, the possibilities of varying the uses of the toys are practically unlimited and children of different ages may be occupied for an indefinite period of time in a manner at once highly entertaining and unquestionably instructive and educational.

Many other objects of the invention, partially relating to novel details of construction and arrangernents of parts will be brought out in the course of the following description. The accompanying drawings illustrate the toy in the form of a dwelling and the following description will be limited tothis subject with the understanding that, as stated hereinbefore, other subjects may be employed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings, in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 represents the toy in its operative position, and

Figure 2, the same toy in a closed condition, illustrative of the exterior of the dwelling,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, drawn to a larger scale, a Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrative of the method of folding the toy,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the toy in its folded condition,

Figure 6 is an enlarged section along the line 6-6 in Figure 3,

' Figure '7 is a perspective view of an insert in connection with the toy,

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the toy showing the application of the insert shown in Figure 7,

Figure '9 is a transverse section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3, v V

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the construction shown in Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale, 7

Figure 11 is an enlarged section along the line 11-11, Figure 10,

Figure 12 is an enlarged section on the line 12-12, Figure 10, and Figure 13 is a face view of an article included in Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrow A. The device, as shown, is made of cardboard or other similar material, and comprises a floor or ground member 5, a combined foreground and face-member 6, hinged to the floor-'nember along the line 7, a background member 8 hinged to the floor-member along a line 9 opposite and parallel to the line 7, said lines being at the opposite longitudinaledges of the member 5, end-members 10 hingedat the ends of the back-member, as at 12, and a roof-member 13 hinged at the upper edge of the back-member along the line 14. f

Used in conjunction with the structure thus far described, are partition-members of V-shaped form, each consisting of two open frames 15 hinged together at adjoining edges along the line 16 and fitting between the floor-member 5, the back-member 8 and the roof-member 13 of the device when the latter is set up in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. One of the members of each partition is hinged at its end opposite to thatv at which it is hinged to theothermember, to the back-member 8 along a line 17 and the corresponding end of the other member of the partition fits against a strip 18 fastened upon the background by a hinge-connection 19.

At the, ends of the structure are other partitions, each composed of a single frame-member 20, which is hinged at the end of the corresponding end-member 10, as at 21, and which at its opposite end fits against a strip'22 hinged at 23 on the back-member at a distance, from its end.

All of the hinge-connections mentioned herein are formed either by bends in the material of which the toy is composed and/or of strips of adhesive tape or other reenforcing material pasted on thehinged part across the lines at which they are connected.

At the forward edge of the ground or floormember are hinged tabs 24 which, in an upright used position, engage the inner sides of the framemembers 20, as best shown in Figures 3 and 6; and when the device is set up in the manner hereinabove stated and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. These tabs are fastened to the respective partitions by metal clips 25. The tabs thus hold the entire structure in its operative condition as a rigid entirety in which the back-member extends vertically at right angles to the horizontal floor or ground-member, while the end-members extend vertically at right angles to both. The V-shaped partitions and the end partitions project forwardly from the back-member and upon the ground-member, andthey support the roofmember in a slanting position. The foreground member projects forwardly of and in the plane I of the floor-member.

The partitions divide thesurface ofthe backmember into sections which, according to the subject of the toy, are printed to represent different parts of the subject. In the example portrayed in the drawings, the sections are printed to represent different rooms of the dwelling, as for instance, a kitchen, as at 26, a dining room, as at 27, a sleeping room, as at 28, a living room, as at 29, a bathroom, as at 30, another bedroom, as at 31, and a sun room, as at 32. The inner faces of the end-members are printed torepresent continuations of the rooms at the ends of the back-member.

It is a distinctive feature of the invention that these pictorial representations are in perspective and that the surfaces of the partitions extend in the lines converging to the vanishingpoints of the perspectives so that the youthful observer gets the illusion of looking into the several rooms to a depth presumably extending beyond the plane of the background.

The illusion is increased by the pieces of furniture and fixtures included in the pictorial representations of the rooms in conventional arrangements.

The inner surfaces of the roof-member and the floor-member are printed to represent ceilings appropriate to the several rooms, and carpets,-tilings, etc., and the upper surface of the foreground member is printed to represent a lawn with flower-beds, paths, shrubberies, etc.

This foreground member may be folded to a vertical position in front of the body portion of the toy, to close the different rooms, and in order to enhance the pleasure derived from the use of the toy, the under surface of the foreground member may be printed to represent the exterior of the house or dwelling, as shown in Figure 2.

Thus the child may entertain its playmates by first showing them the exterior of an establishment and then inviting them to the various rooms of the same by moving the foreground member to its horizontalforwardly projecting position.

The partitions are, as stated before, in the form offrames so that the players may look into the different rooms from the sides thereof. The outer faces of the partitions may be differently colored to harmonize with the pictorial representation of the rooms on the face of the backmember and, if so desired, the outer surfaces of the end members may be printed to represent the exterior of the house, as for example, in the form of brick walls, as shown in Figure 1, and the outer surface of the roof-member may of course be printed to represent tiles or shingles.

Another distinctive feature of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the aspect of the several rooms may be varied by the addition of different pieces of furniture, ornaments, utensils, and other objects too numerous to mention.

With this object in view, the members of the toy are provided with slits, as shown at 33, into which may be inserted slips representing the objects to be placed in the rooms. For example, referring to Figures 10 and 11, the chiffonier and the chair are printed upon separate slips 34, provided with tongues 3411 which are inserted through the slots.

In this manner, different pieces of furniture may be placed in the rooms, different objects may be placed on tables and other articles of furniture, occupants of chairs or beds may be placed in position with relation thereto, pictures may be hung onthe walls, utensils may be placed on the stove in the kitchen; in short, the toy presents, by these means, the possibility of variations so numerous as to remain an object of amusement and educational entertainment without limits.

At 35 in Figure 10 of the drawings, a rack is represented by a strip of material inserted in slits 36 of the background and suspended from this rack are coat-hangers 3'7, also made of strips of the same or similar material. From these coat hangers may be suspended dresses made of paper or other material, as shown at 38.

In Figures 9 and 13 are shown two figures 39 supported upon the foreground by braces 40, which are hinged, as at 41, and held in place by strings 42. As shown in Figure 13, these figures are in the form of people, but it is to be understood that they may be made to represent dogs or other animals or appropriate objects, such as automobiles, garden-furniture, fountains, statues, etc. Instead of providing braces for the support of the figures, the foreground-member and/or the floormember may also be'provided with slits, as shown at 43 in Figure 9, for the insertion of tabs 44 at the ends of the figures in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to the upright surfaces of the toy.

To further increase the utility of the toy, the entire nature of the rooms or other subjects of the sectionsof the toy, may be varied by the use of inserts 45, such as shown in Figure '7. These inserts may be placed in the angles between the end-portions and the end walls in the manner shown in Figure 8, or they may be placed between the other partitions against the background, as shown in broken lines at 46 in Figure 3. Again, the toy is capable of endless variations by the mere substitution of inserts representing different subjects.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the invention is that all of its elements are composed of flat piecesof paper or other material.

The invention contemplates that the youthful users shall themselves provide the different articles for use in connection with the body-portion of the toy, as represented in Figure 1, by cutting figures, dresses, ornaments, articles of furniture and other objects out of magazines, and other periodicals, books, catalogues and other publications. The advertising pages alone provide an endless variety of material, and the little owner of the toy can thus vary its uses in an infinite number of. ways by his own efforts, his own imaginative faculties, his own handwork and without further cost.

If so desired, the figures may be reenforced by pasting pieces of material upon the back thereof,

braces such as that shown in Figure 7, may be provided in a similar manner and in fact by the use of special kinds of adhesive, now on the market, various articles may be pasted against the faces of thetoy and subsequently removed without marring the pictorial representations on the surfaces.

"The toy when not in use can be folded into small compass, for storage or transportation. The manner of doing this has been illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.

After the metal clips are removed, the various partitions and the end-members are folded fiat upon the back-member, the tabs 24 are folded against the floor-member, the floor-member is folded against the back of the background member, the roof-member is folded over the backmember and the floor-member, and finally the foreground member is folded upon the front of the back-member and over the partitions. A rubber band or a metal clip will hold all the parts together.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, endmembers, a roof-member, a floor-member, and partitions projecting forwardly of the back-member between the several subjects printed thereon,

the partitions being slantingly disposed in apparent continuation with diverging planes of the perspective representations.

2. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective,

,, end-members, a roof-member, a floor-member,

' and partitions projecting forwardly of the backmember between the several subjects printed thereon, the end-members and partitions being slantingly disposed in apparent continuation with diverging planes of the perspective representations.

3. Atoy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, endmembers, a roof-member, a floor-member, and

,, partitions in the form of open frames, projecting forwardly of the back-member between the several subjects printed thereon, the partitions being slantingly disposed in apparent continuation with diverging planes of the perspective representations.

4. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member, and a partition projecting forwardly of the back-member, and

, composed of two forwardly converging parts adfloormember, a roof-member, and a partition projecting forwardly of the back-member and composed of two forwardly converging parts in the form of open frames adjoining the backmember along lines of division between the perspective representations.

6. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floormember, a roof-member, and a partition projecting forwardly of the back-member and composed of two forwardly converging parts adjoining the back-member along lines of division between the perspective representations, one of the parts being hingedly connected with the back-member, and the back-member having an abutment for engagement with the other part.

7. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member, and a partition projecting forwardly of the back-member and. composed of two forwardly converging parts adjoining the back-member along lines of division between the perspective representations, one of the parts being hingedly connected with the back-member, and the back-member having a hinged abutment for engagement with the other part.

8. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member and end-members, and a slanting partition adjoining an end-member and adjoining the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations.

9. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a

floor-member, a'roof-member, end-members, a slanting partition hinged to the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations and loosely adjoining an endmember, and means for holding the partition in position relative to the end-member.

10. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member, end-members, a slanting partition hinged to the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations and loosely adjoining an endmember, and a detachable clip for holding the partition in position relative to the end-member.

11. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member, end-members, a slanting partition hinged to the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations and loosely adjoining an endmember, and a clip fastening the partition to the floor-member so as to hold it in position relative to the end-member.

12. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member, end-members, a slanting partition hinged to the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations and loosely adjoining an endmember, and a hinged tab on the floor-member,

and a clip connecting the partition with the tab to hold it in position relative to the end-member.

13. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floor-member, a roof-member and end-members, and a slanting partition in the form of an open frame, adjoining an end-member and adjoining the back-member along a line of division between two perspective representations.

14. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent different subjects in perspective, a floormember, a roof-member, and a partition projecting forwardly of the back-member and composed of two converging parts adjoining the back member along lines of division between the perspective representations, the several members and in planes apparently continuous with the perspective.

16. A toy comprising a back-member printed to represent a subject in perspective, and another subject adjacent same, and a member projecting 18. A toy comprisinga back-member printed to show divided perspective representations of subjects, a floor-member, a roof-member, and a par tition projecting forwardly of the back-member, and composed of two forwardly converging parts adjoining the back-member along lines of division between the perspective representations.

MARY L. HUNGERFORD. 

